Gaming machine button deck filler with lighting effects

2. The button deck filler assembly of claim 1 further comprising a driver coupled to the light source, and a controller coupled to the driver and operable to connect to a local area network, receive instructions from the network associated with the light effect, and in response, operate the driver to cause the light to produce the light effect.

3. The button deck filler assembly of claim 2 in which the controller is adapted to receive instructions to produce the light effect from at least one of the gaming machines.

4. The button deck filler assembly of claim 1 further comprising two supporting flanges, each having a first side adapted to be connected to an underside of an adjacent button deck to support the button deck filler and a second side adapted to be connected along a respective side of the top portion.

5. The button deck filler assembly of claim 1 wherein the top portion has a wedge shape adapted to fill the span between the button decks with the adjacent gaming machines placed with their front faces at a diverging angle.

7. The gaming machine assembly of claim 6 in which each button deck filler assembly further comprises a driver coupled to the light source, and a controller coupled to the driver and operable to connect to a local area network, receive instructions from the network associated with the light effect, and in response, operate the driver to cause the light to produce the light effect.

8. The gaming machine assembly of claim 7 in which the controller is adapted to receive instructions to produce the light effect from a gaming machine in the plurality of gaming machines.

9. The gaming machine assembly of claim 6 in which each button deck filler assembly further comprises two supporting flanges, each having a first side adapted to be connected to an underside of an adjacent button deck to support the respective button deck filler assembly and a second side adapted to be connected along a respective side of the top portion.

10. The gaming machine assembly of claim 6 wherein each top portion has a wedge shape adapted to fill the span between the button decks of the respective adjacent gaming machines with the respective adjacent gaming machines placed with their front faces at a diverging angle.

12. The button deck filler assembly of claim 11 in which the controller is coupled to a local area network on which the gaming machines are coupled and adapted to communicate on the local area network with the gaming machines and other network nodes.

13. The button deck filler assembly of claim 11 in which the controller is adapted to receive instructions to produce the light effect from one of the adjacent gaming machines.

14. The button deck filler assembly of claim 11 in which the top portion comprises a transparent top part extending toward a front of the button deck filler and providing a transparent shelf through which light underneath the top portion can be seen.

15. The button deck filler assembly of claim 14 in which the light source is operable to provide light effects visible along the transparent top part.

16. The button deck filler assembly of claim 15 in which the controller is coupled to a local area network on which the gaming machines are coupled and adapted to communicate on the local area network with the gaming machines and other network nodes.

17. The button deck filler assembly of claim 11 wherein the top portion has a wedge shape adapted to fill the span between the button decks with the adjacent gaming machines placed with their front faces at a diverging angle.